Gov. Scott Proposes $1 Million For Jewish Day School Security

BOCA RATON (CBSMiami) – Noting that every student in Florida deserves to have the opportunity to learn in a safe and comfortable environment, Governor Rick Scott plans do more to protect those who attend Jewish day schools.

“We have absolutely zero tolerance for these hateful and antisemitic acts. Our state has taken important action to keep our students and all of our families safe,” said Scott during a stop Monday at the Katz Hillel Day School in Boca Raton.

The governor announced his 2018-2019 budget proposed $1 million in security funding for Jewish day schools.

The funding would be available to all Jewish day schools to help provide security and counter-terrorism upgrades such as video cameras, fences, bullet-proof glass, alarm systems and other safety equipment.

“After Florida’s Jewish community received hateful threats last year, we saw the need to provide additional security so the children that attend Jewish Day Schools can learn without having to worry about feeling threatened. While last year’s investment will make a huge difference, we must continue to do more,” he said in statement.

Over the past few years, bomb threats forced the evacuations of Jewish day schools in Kendall, Miami Beach, Pinecrest, Davie and Palm Beach Gardens.

Last year, the governor designated $650-thousand just for security for religious institutions after speaking with a number of rabbis. This year, he said, the schools need more.

“There’s hate crimes, there’s anti-semitism, I just don’t understand why that happens,” he said. “We just want to make sure every single student every student is safe.”

However, not everyone supported the funding. The ACLU has questioned the constitutionality of singling out Jewish schools and public school advocates have a problem with public money going towards private schools.